Flashlight



F. w. NORTON Dec. 13, 1949 FLASHLIGHT Filed NOV. 1, 1945 .16 g J6 15 IIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIII/ INVENTOR. My/rant; 11/ flax/Z510 PatentedDec. 13, 1949 UNI rso STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT Frank W. Norton,Chicago, Ill.

Application November 1, 1945,:SerialjrNo. 625,985

3 Claims. 1

The invention relates to improvements in flash "lights -and has for itsprimary object the provision of an improved flashlight'arrangement'protecting the -light bulb from damage when not inuse, andalso giving a widely diffused light when used.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of com'binationsandarrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention wiillibeibestunderstood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming .a part o'fthis specification,.and in which:

.Fig. .1 is a longitudinal-section of a flash light embodying theinvention and shown with the parts in position of non-use;

Fig. 2, a similar view showing the parts in the position assumed whenthe flash light is in use;

Fig. 3, a partial longitudinal section of a modified form ofconstruction showing the parts in position of non-use;

Fig. 4, a similar view of the flash light shown in Fig. 3, but showingthe parts in position of use; and

Fig. 5, a partial longitudinal section of another modified form ofconstruction.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprisesan elongated casing 10 of insulating material having a light opening IIin the center of one end. A battery l2 is slidably arranged in casing Iand a cap 13 is arranged to force the said battery forwardly in saidcasing when desired. An electric light bulb I4 is arranged as shown,with its metallic base l5 fitting snugly but slideably in a metallicbushing IS in said casing, the central contact of said light bulb makingelectrical contact with the central contact ll of the battery l2, asshown. A spiralhelical spring I8 is arranged around the light bulb I4and normally holds said light bulb and said battery in retractedpositions, the spiralhelical form of the spring permitting of maximummovements of the light bulb through the light opening ll because of thefact that the coils of the spring fit one within the other when thespring is fully contracted so that under such circumstances the springoccupies a plane of the thickness of the one strand of the wire of thespring.

When it is desired to use the flash light, the cap 13 is turned to forcethe battery I2 forwardly in the casing Ill until the shell 19 of thebattery makes electrical contact with the inner end of the bushing l6and the light bulb I4 is protruded through the light opening ll, therebyclosing the v2 electrical circuit :through the lightlbulbandexciting the:same. When the .light is discontinued, the cap i3 is operated to permitthe retraction of the light :bulb ltzand battery .12 to the influence ofthespring 18.

In the construction disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the casing 29 ismetallicand the light bulb base slides ina slideable-sleeveor bushingEl-of insulating material. The-cap|.3:carries a-metallic disc 22,.so thatwhen the'battery l2 andlight bulb 14 are forced forwardlyby.theiactionofthe cap 13, electrical contact is effected between the casing 20 .andthe shell 19 0f the battery, and :between thecasinglfl.and-thermetallicibase I f the light bulb, through the medium of thespring it, thereby exciting the light bulb when the same is pro trudedfrom the casing, with results substantially as above described.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the casing 23 is ofinsulating material and the end thereof having the light opening I l isin the form of a screw cap 24. The bulb portion M of the light bulb isin contact with the helical expansion spring I 8 which serves toyieldably hold the bulb M in neutral position until moved forward by thepositive pole ll of the said battery. The base l5 of the light bulbslides in a slideable sleeve or bushing 26, having a contact flange 21at its inner end adapted and arranged to make contact with theinsulating sleeve or cover of the battery l2 when said battery isadvanced. A connecting bar 28 is extended, as shown, the full length ofthe battery l2 which may consist of a number of cells if desired, andthe said bar is provided at its forward end with an inwardly turnedflange 29 adapted and arranged to make contact with the flange 21 of thesleeve 26.

At its rear end, the connecting bar 28 is provided with an inwardlyextending flange 38 resting against the rear end of the shell of thebattery l2, and pressed against said shell by a disc 3| at the inner endof an operating plug 32, threaded in the rear end of the casing, asindicated. In this instance, when the battery 52 is advanced to brin theflange 29 in contact with the flange 21, the light bulb M will beprotruded from the casing and electrical connection established with thelight bulb, as will be readily understood, with results as before.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying the invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsdisclosed, but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flash light having a casing of insulating material in which thelight opening is at one end of said casing; a screw cap on the other endof said casing; a battery slidably arranged within said casing incontact with said screw cap; a metallic bushing having external threadsmounted in said casing in spaced relation with said light opening; acylindrical bore through said bushing in concentric alignment with theinner wall of said casing to slidably entertain the base of an electriclight bulb; an electric light bulb in said bushing; a shoulder on saidlight bulb envelope forwardly of said base; a spiro-helical springprojecting forwardly from said shoulder; a filament envelope of lessdiameter than said shoulder extending into said Spiro-helical spring;and. an inwardly facing ledge in circumferential alignment with saidlight opening in said case providin a seat for the outer end of saidSpiro-helical spring.

2. A flash light having a tubular casing of insulating material; a lightopening at one end of said casing; an adjustable closure on the otherend of said casing; a battery slidably arranged within said casing incontact with said adjustable closure; a metallic bushing having acylindrical bore in concentric alignment with said casing adjacent saidlight opening; a light bulb having a metallic base slidably arrangedwithin said bore, having its center contact in touch with the centercontact of said battery; a circular shoulder on the glass envelope ofsaid bulb; a helical spring expanded forwardly of said circularshoulder; a glass filament envelope of less diameter than said circularshoulder extending forwardly into said helical spring; a circumferentialledge within said casing around said light opening engaging the outerend of said helical spring; there being sufiicient slidable movement ofsaid battery and bulb assembly to'allow the metallic shell of thebattery to connect with the metallic bushin and close the circuitthroughthe light filament.

3. The construction specified in claim 1 in which the said metallicbushing is adjustable longitudinally of said casing.

FRANK W. NORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,059,977 Williams Nov. 3, 19362,222,303 Shough Nov. 19, 1940 2,258,074 Swanson Oct. 7, 1941 2,373,306Gits Apr. 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 411,218 GreatBritain June 7, 1934 484,676 Great Britain May 6, 1938

